Cleopatra 1938

Rita Angus made this painting, "Cleopatra," with oil on canvas and a strong sense of streamlined, stylized form. I can imagine her thinking of the ancient queen, but also figuring out how to make a painting with as few moves as possible. Look how the sharp, crisp lines define the nose and jaw, and how the hand floats. Her paintings often have this quality of floating – almost like a collage or a dream. The flatness of the paint, the clear turquoise background, and the way the figure pops against it feels modern. It makes me think of other painters like Alex Katz, with a similar pared-down approach. It is a painting stripped back to essentials. Angus and Katz share a love of clarity, a desire to capture something essential with minimal fuss. It feels so cool, composed, and yet vulnerable. And that’s the funny thing about paintings, isn't it? They are always talking to each other across time, inspiring each other's curiosity.